Around the world, Indigenous peoples and local communities play a critical role in the protection and conservation of ecosystems and species and genetic diversity. It is estimated that areas controlled, owned or managed by these groups coincides with roughly 80% of the planet’s biodiversity. Fortunately, over the past 20 years, this role has been increasingly recognized by international fora such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), regional courts in the Americas and Africa, and national laws and policies. Read more.